Precepts of Prayer

1. Foundation of prayer is based on God’s love. I John 4:8 says “God is love.” If God’s is love, then our prayers should be based on God’s love.

Why? The greatest two commandments are: To love the Lord our God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Matt 22:38.

Prayer should reflect that love.

Let’s briefly look at this concept further. These two commandments are relational. God’s desire for us is that we operate in His love, which is His law is based on love- that love for others will bring kingdom action. ‘By this shall all men know you are my disciples if you have love one to another’ John 13:35. When we show that love, we are lifting up Jesus. Lifting up Jesus is lifting up God’s love. When Jesus is lifted up, a wonderful thing happens. He draws men to Himself. John 12:32 says ‘And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.’ That is a wonderful promise.

Because of the Love Christ showed to us on the Cross, that love has made a relationship with God possible and can help our prayers. Therefore, if we want to see of God’s love, then we must let God’s love must be a motivating factor behind each prayer we pray. When we do, prayer is an act of love which lifts up Christ, and we will se many people drawn to Christ.

2. Humility: Humility is an area that many of us often overlook, and it is one the Lord keeps reminding us about. Humility for many people might be compared to penance or contriteness. However, humility is much more, and penance and contriteness are only one part of humility. In addition, humility also includes confession, cleaning of issues, and learning to submit to Christ. Humility also includes building up, and serving. I would encourage studying the resource on humility at www.wheatlandministries.blogspot.com and also II Chronicles 7:14.

3. Forgiveness: In Matt 6:12, 14, & 15, and Mark 11:25 the Lord instructed us to forgive when we pray. Why? Unforgiveness is sin, and sin can block our prayers. If we want to see our prayers be effective, we must clear sin and forgive. Justification of our position is an excuse not to forgive. Christ said to forgive.

Note: To many people, forgiveness means letting people off the hook. This concept of forgiveness is not completely true. The Bible teaches that we reap what we sow (Hos 10:13). There are consequences to sin. Therefore I do not believe that forgiveness let’s us off the hook of consequences. If you smoke all your life and ask the Lord for forgiveness, He will forgive, but you may still develop lung cancer because the smoke was detrimental to you. The consequences are still there.

If forgiveness is not letting off the hook, then what is it? It is the releasing from the bondage of sin. Prov 5:22. The sin still occurred, but we choose not to bring it up again. That is what Christ did when He removes our sin (Transgressions) as far as the East is from the West. Ps 103:12,

There is another attitude I have seen which people have about forgiving. People often tell me that they equate forgiving with forgetting. When you forgive, you will not forget, but with true forgiveness there is a releasing from the bondage of the offense. Releasing from the bondage reduces the urge to bring up the past item that was forgiven. Fortunately there is a way that that urge can be further reduced if it keeps coming up. That way is to bless the other person personally, or in prayer. A good source of prayers that contain blessings are Paul’s prayers found in Eph 1 and 3. As you further study scriptures, look for blessings that can be prayed. Use them as appropriate and as the Lord leads you. They will help reduce the urge to bring up past issues. I have to admit, I do not understand how or why it works, but blessing others does work. You may find more about blessing others in RT Kendal’s book “Total Forgiveness”.

4. Praying continually: In I Thes 5:17 it says to pray continually. There are many ways that we can stay or be in a mindset or attitude of praying through out the day. What ever works that helps you remember to pray, needs to be encouraged. Above all ask the Lord to help you encourage to continually pray.